IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/ausact/v33y2023i4p391-406.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Future of Accounting Talent: Career Values, Choices and Satisfaction Among Early Career Accountants

Author

Listed:
  • Denise Jackson
  • Julia Richardson
  • Grant Michelson
  • Rahat Munir

Abstract

Amid a global war for accounting talent, this paper extends our understanding of early career accountants’ (ECAs) career values and the alignment between their career expectations and experiences when entering the profession. Drawing on survey data from 305 ECAs and 165 managers/recruiters of ECAs in Australia, the paper uses social cognitive career theory and person–organisation fit theory to explore the dynamic interplay between individual and contextual factors and career values, career choices and subsequent career satisfaction. The findings emphasise the importance of both intrinsic, and to a lesser extent extrinsic, career values for ECAs, with variations by gender and organisation setting. ECAs and managers identified different perceptions of attractors to diverse organisational settings. While ECAs were generally satisfied with their careers, satisfaction varied by organisation type. Intrinsic career values were positively associated with ECAs’ career satisfaction, along with age and closer alignment between career expectations and experiences. Our analyses suggest implications for the recruitment and retention of new accounting talent and calls to engage with individual and contextual influences on career values, experiences and satisfaction. Specifically, the paper highlights how different organisations can tailor their strategies to better attract and retain early career accountants to support more sustainable careers.

Suggested Citation

  • Denise Jackson & Julia Richardson & Grant Michelson & Rahat Munir, 2023. "The Future of Accounting Talent: Career Values, Choices and Satisfaction Among Early Career Accountants," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 33(4), pages 391-406, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ausact:v:33:y:2023:i:4:p:391-406
    DOI: 10.1111/auar.12409
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/auar.12409
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/auar.12409?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lambert, Stephanie A. & Herbert, Ian P. & Rothwell, Andrew T., 2020. "Rethinking the Career Anchors Inventory framework with insights from a finance transformation field study," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(2).
    2. Suryani, Ani Wilujeng & Helliar, Christine & Carter, Amanda J. & Medlin, John, 2018. "Shunning careers in public accounting firms: The case of Indonesia," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 50(5), pages 463-480.
    3. Herbohn, K., 2004. "Informal mentoring relationships and the career processes of public accountants," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 369-393.
    4. Durocher, Sylvain & Bujaki, Merridee & Brouard, François, 2016. "Attracting Millennials: Legitimacy management and bottom-up socialization processes within accounting firms," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 1-24.
    5. Jerry Schoenfeld & Gerry Segal & Dan Borgia, 2017. "Social cognitive career theory and the goal of becoming a certified public accountant," Accounting Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(2), pages 109-126, March.
    6. Denise Jackson & Julia Richardson & Grant Michelson & Rahat Munir, 2022. "Attracting accounting and finance graduate talent – beyond the Big Four," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(3), pages 3761-3790, September.
    7. repec:eme:marpps:10222521111178637 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. C. Allen Clabaugh & Gary S. Monroe & Geoffrey N. Soutar, 2000. "Supervisory Factors Affecting Job Satisfaction in Public Accounting Firms," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 10(20), pages 65-72, March.
    9. Denise Jackson & Julia Richardson & Grant Michelson & Rahat Munir, 2023. "Perceptions and experiences of career success among aspiring and early career accountants and the role of organisational support," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(1), pages 229-245, March.
    10. Denise Jackson, 2020. "Accounting and Finance Graduate Employment Outcomes: Underemployment, Self‐employment and Managing Diversity," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 30(3), pages 193-205, September.
    11. Dan Andrews & Nathan Deutscher & Jonathan Hambur & David Hansell, 2020. "The career effects of labour market conditions at entry," OECD Productivity Working Papers 20, OECD Publishing.
    12. Daoust, Laurence, 2020. "Playing the Big Four recruitment game: The tension between illusio and reflexivity," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    13. Kathleen Herbohn, 2005. "Job Satisfaction Dimensions in Public Accounting Practice," Accounting Research Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 18(2), pages 63-82, December.
    14. Rupali Singh & Pooja Sharma & Cyril Foropon & H.M. Belal, 2022. "The role of big data and predictive analytics in the employee retention: a resource-based view," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 43(2), pages 411-447, February.
    15. repec:eme:maj000:maj-03-2018-1823 is not listed on IDEAS
    16. Valerie Dawn Caines & Monique F Crane & Jack Noone & Barbara Griffin & Shiksha Datta & Joanne Kaa Earl, 2020. "Older workers: Past, present and future," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 45(3), pages 425-448, August.
    17. Hossein Nouri & Robert James Parker, 2020. "Turnover in public accounting firms: a literature review," Managerial Auditing Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 35(2), pages 294-321, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yaowen Shan & Sue Wright, 2023. "Focus on the Future," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 33(4), pages 335-335, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Amondarain, Josune & Aldazabal, M. Edurne & Espinosa-Pike, Marcela, 2023. "Gender differences in the auditing stereotype and their influence on the intention to enter the profession," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    2. Beau, Pauline & Jerman, Lambert, 2022. "Bonding forged in “auditing hell”: The emotional qualities of Big Four auditors," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    3. de Vries, Marlies & Blomme, Rob & De Loo, Ivo, 2022. "Part of the herd or black sheep? An exploration of trainee accountants’ suffering and modes of adaptation," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    4. Egan, Matthew & Voss, Barbara de Lima, 2023. "Redressing the Big 4’s male, pale and stale image, through LGBTIQ+ ethical praxis," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    5. Kathleen Herbohn, 2005. "Job Satisfaction Dimensions in Public Accounting Practice," Accounting Research Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 18(2), pages 63-82, September.
    6. Dunne, Neil J. & Brennan, Niamh M. & Kirwan, Collette E., 2023. "How the Big Four maintain and defend logic equilibrium at concurrent performances," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    7. Michael Bradbury & Bryan Howieson, 2020. "Editorial: Evidence on APRA Proposals and Impact of COVID‐19 on Expected Credit Loss Accounting," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 30(3), pages 157-158, September.
    8. Henri Bussink & Tobias Vervliet & Bas Weel, 2022. "The Short-Term Effect of the COVID-19 Crisis on Employment Probabilities of Labour-Market Entrants in the Netherlands," De Economist, Springer, vol. 170(2), pages 279-303, May.
    9. Hall, Matthew & Smith, David, 2009. "Mentoring and turnover intentions in public accounting firms: a research note," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 28924, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    10. Daoust, Laurence, 2020. "Playing the Big Four recruitment game: The tension between illusio and reflexivity," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    11. Samuel Bentolila & Florentino Felgueroso & Marcel Jansen & Juan F. Jimeno, 2022. "Lost in recessions: youth employment and earnings in Spain," SERIEs: Journal of the Spanish Economic Association, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 13(1), pages 11-49, May.
    12. Bussink, Henri & Vervliet, Tobias & ter Weel, Bas, 2022. "The Short-Term Effect of the COVID-19 Crisis on Employment Probabilities of Labour-Market Entrants in the Netherlands," IZA Discussion Papers 15242, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    13. Svanberg, Jan & Öhman, Peter, 2015. "Auditors' identification with their clients: Effects on audit quality," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 395-408.
    14. José-Joaquín del-Pozo-Antúnez & Horacio Molina-Sánchez & Francisco Fernández-Navarro & Antonio Ariza-Montes, 2021. "Accountancy as a Meaningful Work. Main Determinants from a Job Quality and Optimization Algorithm Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-14, August.
    15. Marcela Mucalová, 2015. "Causes of conflicts of Czech accountants with their superiors and job satisfaction," Acta Universitatis Bohemiae Meridionales, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, vol. 18(1), pages 17-29.
    16. Ishfaq Ahmed & Sahar Latif Rana, 2011. "Jobs satisfaction mediates relationship between facets of job and citizenship behavior: a study of female employees of banking sector of Pakistan," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 3(4), pages 228-234.
    17. Helmi Hentati & Neila Boulila Taktak, 2023. "Unlocking Technological Capabilities to Boost the Performance of Accounting Firms," Journal of Accounting and Management Information Systems, Faculty of Accounting and Management Information Systems, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, vol. 22(4), pages 631-656, December.
    18. Dunne, Neil J. & Brennan, Niamh M. & Kirwan, Collette E., 2021. "Impression management and Big Four auditors: Scrutiny at a public inquiry," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    19. Yuna Ma & Jiafeng Gu & Ruixi Lv, 2022. "Job Satisfaction and Alcohol Consumption: Empirical Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-15, January.
    20. Jan Svanberg & Peter Öhman, 2016. "The effects of time budget pressure, organisational-professional conflict, and organisational commitment on dysfunctional auditor behaviour," International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 12(2), pages 131-150.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:ausact:v:33:y:2023:i:4:p:391-406. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1035-6908 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.